The 27,800 tonne warship will return to BAE Systems’ Williamstown shipyard later today where she will then be prepared for delivery to the Department of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The main focus of the final sea trials was on testing the ship’s combat and communications systems. They were undertaken over a 10 day period throughout the ship’s journey from Williamstown to Jervis Bay, NSW and the return voyage. These areas were chosen to provide maximum flexibility and proximity to the Australian Defence Force assets being used.

The Royal Australian Navy will have the opportunity to perform various routine alongside exercises as it continues to build its capability for crewing the vessel while the ship compartments and systems are progressively handed over to the NUSHIP Adelaide crew as part of the overall ship delivery process.

The crew has already been trained for its role on the RAN’s second LHD ship. BAE Systems Australia trained all 700 crew serving on NUSHIP Adelaide and HMAS Canberra at the Company’s state-of-the-art training facility at Mascot, Sydney.

Director of Maritime, BAE Systems Australia, Bill Saltzer said: “The upcoming handover will of course be a very proud day for all involved with building NUSHIP Adelaide, but it won’t be the end of our involvement with these mighty ships. As prime contractor for LHD In Service Support, our team of experienced engineers, technicians and logisticians in both Sydney and Williamstown will continue to be the key partner to the CASG and RAN in managing the availability of these two ships at Garden Island, Sydney. Our LHD team is now focused on the final elements of work in preparing NUSHIP Adelaide for delivery. Some of the team members on the LHD build program will then transition to the support services group. Some have already made that transition since the time of delivery of HMAS Canberra. BAE Systems has the capability, experience and facilities to support and upgrade the Navy’s ships, as we are currently successfully demonstrating on the ANZAC Frigate Anti Ship Missile Defence upgrade project and our other support activities on both ANZAC and Adelaide Class Frigates, Hydrographic Vessels and systems/components installed on the RAN’s minehunters and submarines.”